Top theatre and musicals to stream during lockdown
We pick the top shows that are available for virtual viewing
© Pamela Raith
With tier restrictions likely to be in place for a while, we've provided a round-up of some of the best streamed shows (live or pre-recorded) you can check out now!
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21st Annual WhatsOnStage Awards
The WOSAwards are back but very different! This year we'll be streaming a digital concert celebrating you – the audience. The star-studded line-up is to be revealed... Captions will be available with tickets on sale now.
Brooklyn
The hit Off-Broadway show is getting a gorgeously shot filmed experience with a crack musical cast. One for March!
Brother
Robin Simões da Silva and Annabel Mutale Reed's show will be live-streamed from home of all things new musical Southwark Playhouse! Worth a look, for sure. The venue is also streaming a new piece featuring Wendi Peters – the fun never ends.
Scaramouche Jones or the Seven White Masks
Shane Richie stars in a new revival of the much-loved play! Find out more.
Emilia
The award-winning show returns for March! Get those fists raised and those fires burning – Emilia is a smashing time.
Treason the Musical
Streamed over the course of three days later this year, the show is based on the infamous Gunpowder plot. Casting is rather sparky. – access options are tbd.
BBC iPlayer
A number of stage goodies are on the Beeb's streaming site, including Uncle Vanya and Matthew Bourne's The Red Shoes! A plethora have Audio description and captions. Oh, and be sure to check out the brand-new Musicals: The Greatest Show – available to watch for a year!
West End Bares: Turned On
The fab, ab-tastic charity fundraiser event is back with a variety of exciting acts – all raising money for a good cause! You can find out more via the West End Bares website. English subtitles available.
A Splinter of Ice
Ben Brown's new play is a political drama featuring iconic playwright Graham Greene. Expect thrills! Streaming from 15 April, courtesy of Original Theatre. English subtitles available.
The Color Purple
After working wonders with Sunset Boulevard, Curve Leicester will now team up with the Birmingham Hippodrome to create a concert version from the WhatsOnStage Award-winning production of The Color Purple. Curve will offer a range of accessible performances throughout the run, including captioned and audio described streams – from 16 February.
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Dan Stevens and Rebecca Hall will star in the one-night-only reading of Shakespeare's classic in March.
Northern Stage
The venue will be streaming a variety of bits and bobs across the coming months as part of its 2021 season.
Iris Theatre
The venue will host Platform in the Gardens, a series of performances recorded in the gardens of the Actors' Church during the company's outdoor summer festival in 2020. These are available until the end of March. Streams are fully captioned.
Barnes' People
Four Peter Barnes monologues will be available from 18 February to 31 July, led by top-tier stage and screen talent. English subtitles are available.
Sheffield Theatres
The venue is going to stream two productions from its main stage! You can read all about the first, streaming from 15 to 28 March 2021, now.
Rifco Theatre's Leave the Plastic On
The company's comedy series is available to watch now – top notch production values and some whip-sharp dialogue. The show has closed captions.
Gatsby
A Cadogan Hall recording will be made available for audiences next month – retelling F Scott Fitzgerald's great 20th century masterpiece. Accessibility options tbc.
National Theatre at Home
The National has its own streaming service! You can even catch its new pantomime on there, as well as a host of additional award-winning productions. Captioned and audio-described performances are available.
The Space
The venue will launch its second season of streamed work from Friday (8 January) – expect fresh and novel theatre from a groundbreaking organisation.
Until the Flood
The Traverse Theatre has uploaded this hit play from Dael Orlandersmith to its website so you can watch at your viewing pleasure. Well worth checking it out!
© Johan Persson
Bristol Old Vic
The venue is presenting a variety of shows as part of a package until the end of spring. Contact the venue for access options.
The Theatre Channel
Some top tier musical performances are provided by the Theatre Channel, a new endeavour that sees West End staple The Theatre Café transformed into a luscious stage for vocalists. Captions available.
Original Theatre
One of the first companies to hit the ground running with streamed work was Original Theatre, who created masterpieces such as Birdsong Online. Their most recent show, The Haunting of Alice Bowles, is available now, as well as old hits like The Habit of Art.
Southwark Playhouse
The venue has dedicated itself to streaming new and innovative work since the most recent tier restrictions, with a plethora of work on offer. March will see The Sorcerer's Apprentice being made available.
© Southwark Playhouse
Stream.theatre
A new player in the streaming game already making waves, the site has the likes of The Last Five Years available, as well as ten hours of concert performances from the West End Musical Drive-In.